Badgers have traversed a long road since seeing last season end in the Big Ten tourney

Badgers forward Ethan Happ and the Badgers lose a tough game to Michigan State on Friday.(Photo: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports)

MADISON – Minutes after his freshman season at Wisconsin ended with a three-point loss to Michigan State in the quarterfinals of the 2018 Big Ten tournament, Brad Davison sat in the locker room with his dejected teammates and vowed the future would be different.

Tears streamed down his face, his voice broke and his body shook as he talked to reporters in Madison Square Garden after UW’s run of NCAA appearances ended at 19 seasons.

“I can’t change what happened,” he said at the time. “But I think everything happens for a reason and we’re going to be stronger through this.

“It sucks right now…in the long run, we’re not going to have this feeling again and I know that and I know the people in the locker room don’t want this feeling again."

That was on March 2 of last year.

When the Badgers take the court Friday at the United Center in Chicago for the 2019 Big Ten tournament, they will do so as the No. 4-seeded team with an NCAA berth already secured. UW is generally projected to be a No. 4 seed in the NCAA field, which will be revealed Sunday.

UW's opponent Friday in Chicago will be either fifth-seeded Maryland, 12th-seeded Rutgers or 13th-seeded Nebraska.

“No matter who it is, it is going to be another tough opponent," coach Greg Gard said. "This league has been unbelievable this year.

“I’m proud of our guys how we’ve persevered to get to this point through the league, as deep as it has been.”

The Badgers finished 15-18 overall last season. They are 22-9 this season, with games in the Big Ten tournament and NCAA Tournament still ahead.

“They have grown and matured and obviously used last year’s experiences to make themselves better," Gard said. "This group came into the year, through the whole off-season, with a chip on their shoulder and something to prove.

“They did a pretty good job of getting close to where they wanted to be. They wanted to win the whole league in the regular season. Weren’t able to do that.”